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Tag: FAAN

  • NCAA, FAAN ready for Nigeria’s re-certification

    NCAA, FAAN ready for Nigeria’s re-certification

    •Audit team arrives from US

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) are ready for the re-certification of Nigeria by the United States Federal Aviation Administration (US FAA).

    The audit began this week as the team of inspectors from the US would visit major airports to re-evaluate safety and security issues and processes andprocedures in line with prescribed rules by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    The FAA awarded Nigeria Category One safety status in 2010 after it certified the country for meeting the International Aviation Safety Assessment standards.

    Spokesman of the aviation agencies, Yakubu Dati, told The Nation that the status has declared Nigeria’s airspace worthy.

    “Within the space of three years after this certification, the various parastatals under the Ministry of Aviation have attained significant milestones,” Dati said, adding that FAAN has between 2010 and 2014, reached a new height, as the organisation is committed to making a conscious effort in keeping both passengers and the public safe and secured at the airports.

    “FAAN is fully compliant with ICAO standards for fire-fighting and rescue operations. Before July 2011, there were only 20 fire tenders available, but now, FAAN has 46 fire tenders. In addition, 450 brand new kits, (equipment as well as personal protective clothing) have been provided for all firemen and women. This has been done to enable firemen efficiently carry-out their duties in securing and safe-guarding the airport terminals, staff and passengers,” he said.

    He noted that the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), through the new Air Traffic Management system deployed under the TRACON project, has improved the safety.

    “The TRACON project has been completed with approach radar control in Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Area Radar commenced in ontrol Centres. This has significantly increased airspace capacity for the Nigerian aviation industry,” he said.

    He said TRACON has improved safety in the sector in addition to the deployment of control tower solar power for navigational aids, which were unavailable for a long time, and now Nigeria has six navigational aids and 11 control towers to its credit.He said in the review period, NCAA recorded major achievements after the Category one certification in 2010, adding that one of these achievements, is the deployment of flight tracking system, Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) which was unavailable in the country before the FAA certification.

    “Another pertinent milestone is the IOSA certification and interlining which has never been done in Nigeria. Two local airlines have been successfully certified under this programme and the exercise is currently on going. With the restructuring of the NCAA, Nigeria will have an affective, proactive aviation safety regulator similar to what is found in any advanced countries of the world,” he added.

  • ‘Why Emirates can’t fly from Abuja to Dubai’

    ‘Why Emirates can’t fly from Abuja to Dubai’

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday said the Emirates Airlines cannot operate a flight from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International, Abuja to Dubai because of bilateral agreements.

    FAAN was reacting to a statement credited to a former Director-General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Mr. Tony Iredia, that he was informed that the airline could not fly from Abuja to Dubai until Nigerian officials are “seen”.

    “One can say categorically that the issue of ‘seeing’ aviation officials, in which bribes are supposedly collected in exchange for routes, is totally absurd.” Dati said.

    FAAN spokes Yakubu Dati said routes operated by commercial airlines were usually determined by economic factors rather than political sentiments.

    “If the Abuja to Addis Ababa route, for instance, is not profitable for the airline, it would not do it.”

     

    It certainly has nothing to do with greasing the palm of anybody,” he noted.

    Dati stated that the aviation reform initiated by the erstwhile minister of aviation, Princess Stella Oduah “is a plus to the impact that the idea of transforming the Nigerian sector has made on the Nigerian society.”

    “There is confirmation that there was/is still a need to transform Nigerian aviation in order to move it forward and compete favourably with other countries,” he said.

    Dati recalled that in the past three years the ministry of aviation did a lot to open new international routes for Nigerian aviation pointing out that in 2013, the ministry successfully negotiated and signed bilateral air service agreement with the State of Israel thereby ending several decades of lack of direct flights between Nigeria and Israel.

    He also said the federal government had granted approval to the Jordanian Airlines to fly direct between Lagos and the Jordanian capital, Amman.

    “Nigerian aviation authorities also recorded the first direct international flight from the south-east when President Goodluck Jonathan commissioned an expanded and remodelled Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. On that occasion, an Ethiopian Airlines commercial aircraft undertook direct flight from Enugu to Addis Abba.

    “So the transformation of the Nigerian aviation is multi-faceted and it indeed addresses all the areas. It is on record that the aviation ministry has been at loggerheads with a few individuals with fraudulent concession agreements and contracts through which the country was being milked by these private businessmen.

    “The cancellations of these concessions and the consequent return of those duties to the aviation agencies have resulted in a phenomenal jump in government revenue from aviation sector by more than a thousand per cent,” he added.

    In addition, he said plans had been concluded to build five new state-of-the art international terminals at five airports including those in Lagos and Abuja. “Presumably, these airports would be able to rival those at Dubai. But more importantly, these would satisfy the needs of Nigerians especially for cargo facilities that can handle perishable goods meant for export. This would help generate foreign exchange and improve the lots of Nigerian farmers,” he said.

  • Airport Terminals to be completed soon

    Airport Terminals to be completed soon

    Adequate budgetary provision has been made for the completion of remodelled airport terminals, the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, said yesterday during an inspection tour of the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos and Kaduna International Airport.

    Dunoma charged the contractors to ensure the completion of work in good time.

    The Managing Director urged the contractors to work with the expected specification and standards.

    He further expressed appreciation over the level of commitment and improvement in the work done.

     

  • N10b cash on jet: Reps secure travel logs of Minister’s plane

    N10b cash on jet: Reps secure travel logs of Minister’s plane

    •Alison-Madueke suspends trip to prepare defence

    The travel logs of the jet chartered by Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke are now in possession of members of the House of Representatives as they prepare to launch their probe of the N10 billion allegedly spent by her on the plane.

    The logs, The Nation authoritatively gathered, cover the minister’s trips to China, South Africa, United States and United Arab Emirates.

    There are also indications that the House may demand movement logs of the Challenger jet from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA); and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

    One of the parastatals under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has been fingered in the hiring and payment for the jet.

    Upset by the media attention generated by what many Nigerians see as waste of public funds, the minister has suspended a foreign trip with President Goodluck Jonathan to prepare her defence for the House of Representatives.

    Investigations in Abuja showed that some representatives have obtained travel logs of the minister which they intend to present to the Public Accounts Committee for verification from FAAN, NAMA and NCAA.

    A reliable source said the fact-sheet available to some members indicated that the average cost of a trip on the jet was about $300,000.

    It was also learnt that the parastatatal in question maintains the jet with $500,000 per month.

    The source said: “This probe is a result of painstaking efforts by some members in the last one year. Some of these members, including those from PDP in the House, have secured the travel logs of the minister to and from Nigeria.

    “For instance, she had been to China, South Africa, United States, the UK and the United Arab Emirates with the jet. At a point, the jet was relocated to Ghana when controversy arose on the jet in August last year.

    “Even if FAAN, NAMA and NCAA decide not to release the records of movement of the Challenger Jet, these countries will oblige the House of Representatives. Also, the leasing company is foreign owned, it cannot hide the records if it wants to remain in business.”

    Another source said: “We have identified some issues for Diezani as follows:

    • What informed the hiring of the jet?

    • Why will the parastatal be paying for the jet?

    • Why will the minister travel in a private jet while on the delegation of the president to some countries?

    • Assuming that the hiring of the jet was due to exigencies, what informed the extension of the privilege to members of her family as was the case during the 2013 Easter Break trip to Dubai in UAE?

    “We are not after the person of the minister but we want probity in government. We won’t allow a serving public officer use the public treasury for personal purpose.

    “And what we are doing is not new because a group, Crusaders for Good Governance (CGG), sent a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the same issue last year.”

    But the probe has caused anxiety in the presidency following recurring scandals trailing cabinet members.

    A source in government said: “The presidency is worried that the series of probes targeted at ministers might be attempts to bring down the government by some forces.

    “We are waiting for the investigative process and how it will go. The government will certainly pay keen interest on the probe.”

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke has already suspended an overseas trip with President Jonathan to her enable prepare her defence for the House of Representatives.

    A source close to her said: “The minister is just upset with the allegation, she decided to cancel her schedule abroad to clear her image. She believes the allegations are too grave to ignore.

    “She is already preparing her defence; she has devoted the weekend to do this. The minister has told everyone around her that there is a total misconception and misplacement of facts and purely an act of political blackmail against this administration

    “By the time she is through with the facts and figures, Nigerians will know the truth. She was seriously upset that some people are personalizsing the issue. She said the figures they are quoting were exaggerated; when the Minister opens up, it will be revealing too.”

     

  • Dunoma takes over from Uriesi at FAAN

    Dunoma takes over from Uriesi at FAAN

    Eight days after he was removed from office, the former managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), George Uriesi yesterday handed over to his successor Saleh Dunoma as chief executive of the airport authority.

    The hand over took place at the headquarters of FAAN in Ikeja, Lagos.

    At a brief ceremony, Uriesi praised the appointment of Saleh as one of the best decisions by the Federal Government, affirming that it would be a boost for the authority.

    He described Saleh as a straight forward leader, whose humility and dignity never failed to marvel him.

    Uriesi expressed appreciation for the great privilege he had working with Saleh and the staff over the past four years, first as a Director and later as Chief Executive Officer of the Authority.

    The former Chief Executive explained that though it would be challenging running the Authority, his desire was to see FAAN blossom.

    The new managing director said he had a close working relationship with Uriesi, adding that he was allowed to take critical decisions on behalf of the former managing director.

    Saleh expressed appreciation for the trust and the support he enjoyed from the former Chief Executive, adding that his exit from the Authority was a fulfilment of destiny, as it was time for him to move somewhere else.

    He said he was confident that he would succeed in assignment.

     

  • New MDs for FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, NCAT

    New MDs for FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, NCAT

    Massive shake-up hit aviation agencies yesterday – three weeks after Princess Stella Oduah was removed as minister.

    The sudden sack gale provoked mixed feelings at the headquarters of the agencies in Lagos.

    A statement from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, said President Goodluck Jonathan approved the reorganisation.

    Only Dr. Tony Anuforo retained his position as Director-General of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

    The statement by Sam Nwaobasi, Special Assistant (Media) to the SGF, said: “Mr. Saleh Dumona (Director Projects, FAAN) is to replace Mr. George Uriesi as Managing-Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    “Mr. Ibrahim Abdulsalam (General Manager, Procurements (NAMA) is to replace Mr. Nnamdi Udoh as Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

    “Capt. Samuel Akinyele Caulcrick (Government Safety Inspector & ICAO Focal Point for Nigeria on line Aircraft Safety Information Systems, OASIS) is to replace Capt. (Mrs.) Chinyere Kalu as Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT).

    “Capt. Muhktar Usman (Commissioner, Accident Investigation & Prevention Bureau, AIPB) is to replace Capt. Fola C. Akinkuotu as Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), subject to confirmation by the Senate.

    “Mr. Benedict Adeyileka is to act as DG, NCAA, pending his confirmation by the Senate.

    Dr. Felix A. Abali (Director Licencing, NCAA) is to replace Capt. Muhktar Usman as Commissioner, Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIPB).”

    The sack of the NCAA director general is coming on the heels of plans by the government to undergo the re-certification of Nigeria’s safety rating for Category One status.

    The United States (U.S.) team to carry out the audit will arrive in Nigeria this month.

    Nigeria attained Category One on September 18, 2010.

    Part of the requirements of the re-assessment is: certification of major international airports, the operations of aviation agencies, including airspace authority, aviation training college and the meteorological agency.

    The recertification is part of the processes to revalidate the highest civil aviation rating, which ensures that Nigeria is in line with updated standards and recommended practices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

    Aviation stakeholders expressed mixed reactions over the sack of heads of the agencies. They described removal of the NCAA DG as “controversial”.

    Mr. Sheri Kyari, executive director of the Centre for Aviation Safety and Research, said the industry would require time to recover from the restructuring.

    Captain Dele Ore, president of Aviation RoundTable, said he could not comment because no reason was given for the removal of the director general of the NCAA.

    Other players in the sector, who declined to give their names, said frequent changes of leadership could have some negative impact on the industry.

    The Nigerian Civil Aviation Act (2006) specifies conditions under which the NCAA DG could be removed from office.

    It states: “There shall be for the Authority a Director-General who shall be appointed by the President, on such terms and conditions as stipulated in the Act, subject to the confirmation by the Senate.

    “The Director–General shall be primarily responsible for the fostering of the safety of Civil Aviation in Nigeria and shall be the chief executive and accounting officer of the Authority responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Authority.

    “He shall be appointed for a term of five years in the first instance and may be reappointed for a further term of five years and no more.

    “A person who possesses relevant and adequate professional qualification and shall have been so qualified for a period of not less than 15 years.

    “The Director-General may be suspended or removed from office by the president if he has demonstrated inability to effectively perform the duties of his office.

    “If has been absent from 5 (five) consecutive meetings of the Board without the consent of the Chairman, unless he shows good reasons for such absence.”

    “If he is guilty of serious misconduct in relation to his duties as Director-General.

    The condition also states that in the case of a person possessed of professional qualifications, he could be removed if he is disqualified or suspended from practising his profession in any part of the world by an order of a competent authority.

    “Or he is guilty of a conflict of interest as stipulated in Section 10 of this Act.

    “The Director-General shall not be removed from office except in accordance with the provisions of this Act.”

     

  • PHOTO: Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport inspection

    PHOTO: Sam Mbakwe Cargo Airport inspection

  • Why there was power outage at Lagos airport – FAAN

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria on Wednesday blamed damaged power supply cables for Tuesday’s power outage at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Several pre – flight operations were disrupted on account of the power outage at the terminal.

    The agency General Manager, Corporate communication, Mr. Yakubu Dati, told journalists that the damaged cables are being replaced by contractors working at the terminal to avoid reoccurrence of the outage.

    Dati added that FAAN engineers have been mobilized to constantly monitor the contractors working at the terminal to ensure no further damage is done to the cables.

    He said,” The outage which was on for about one hour was caused by damaged cables caused by ongoing construction work at the Lagos Airport international terminal. Steps are being taken to ensure it does not happen again.”

     

  • Why SSS operatives were removed from immigration points, by FAAN

    Why SSS operatives were removed from immigration points, by FAAN

    The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday gave reasons for the withdrawal of State Security Services (SSS) from immigration points at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

    FAAN’s spokesman Yakubu Dati said SSS operatives were withdrawn from Immigration points because their services at such points could affect passengers’ facilitation.

    In a statement yesterday, Dati said: “The FAAN wishes to correct the wrong impression that the services of the SSS were withdrawn from Immigration points at our international airports because such services were unnecessary at airports and they inhibit passenger facilitation.

    “Nothing could be further from the truth because government security services are pivotal to aviation security service internationally, even though their functions are secret in nature.

    “For the purpose of clarity, some government agencies at airports, including the SSS, were recently relocated from the Immigration counters at our international airports, to enable FAAN achieve the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA’s) requirement that passenger facilitation be completed within six minutes of arrival, in line with international standards and practices.”

  • Jonathan approves board for four Aviation agencies

    Jonathan approves board for four Aviation agencies

    President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the composition of the governing boards of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

    A statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, said that the dates for the board of director’s inauguration will be announced in due course by the Minister of Aviation.

    The details of the non-institutional and relevant institutional members of the Boards, according to the statement, include Olusola Oke as Chairman of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency while members are C. J. Udeh, Captain Kuti, Okwudili Uzoka, Jerry Ugokwe, H.Z. Abubakar, Lucky Umoru, Captain Megason, A. Chukwuma and Group Captain John Yekorogha (Rtd).

    For the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Dr. Dan Kure is the Chairman.

    Members include Onuora Chinwe Leticia, Hon. Halima Hassan Tukur, Ngozi Lavender, Mr Farouk Gumel, Amobi Nwokafor, Clement Adegoke Dosunmu, Iboro Edaba Ige, Alhaji Muneer Bankole, Dr. Al Amin, Mrs. Patricia Ntofon, Captain Shaifi, Niyi Agbola and Group Captain Henry Unaeze (Rtd).

    Abdullahi Waziri Tambuwal is the Chairman of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority and members include Col. Tony Igbanoi, Capt. Sabo Sambo, Chief Frank Edonkumor, Captain Alkali, Alhaji Buba, Chief Emeka Akabueze, Captain Edward Bayo, Sokie Amakree, an engineer Captain Ruma Mohammed and Bola Odugbesan.

    Nigerian Meteorological Agency has Chief Yomi Akintola as its Chairman. Members are Capt. Toju Ogisi, Chief Tunde Taiwo, Jim Ogbolu, Mr. Peter Momodu, Mrs Omikunle, Mr. Ralph Ogar, Mrs. Aletche Bimbo, C.C Nwuba, and Tony Odita.